Re: Newcomer (Male) with a few things to share (2nd attempt)

[Michael Mortimer <mickey_mortimer111@msn.com>]

Jamie Stearns wrote-

> > Segisaurus more basal than other coelophysoids?
> I mainly followed Rauhut's 2000 thesis for the coelophysoids, which placed 
> Segisaurus as the most basal.

No, that's a misunderstanding of his cladogram (partially due to my crazy 
method of writing it at the time- oops).  Rauhut had all coelophysoids in a 
polytomy (except the two Liliensternus species).
The most recent and complete analysis (Tykoski, 2005) has Segisaurus sister 
to "Syntarsus" kayentakatae, based on- anterodorsal margin of acromion has 
smooth, continuous, high-angle transition to scapular blade; pubes 
rectangular in distal view.

> > "Syntarsus" closer to birds than Coelophysis?
> It might have had something to do with the life restoration I saw that made 
> it look like a Coelophysis with a Dilophosaurus-like head, but Rauhut found 
> it to be between Segisaurus and Coelophysis. Alternatively, it could be 
> more closely related to Coelophysis than anything else.

Again, that's a misunderstanding of Rauhut's cladogram.  Only "S." 
kayentakatae has cranial crests, but according to Tykoski (2005), that 
species isn't really "Syntarsus".  He found Megapnosaurus (="Syntarsus") 
rhodesiensis to be most closely related to Coelophysis bauri based on- 
dorsal process of maxilla angles <35 degrees from horizontal; promaxillary 
fenestra absent; lateral lamina of ventral lacrimal process linear and 
remains posterior to medial lamina; more than 18 dentary teeth; jugal does 
not contact antorbital fossa.

Mickey Mortimer